Marla Schaffel Love

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 5:40pm

I ran a search, didn't see any thread like this.

I love Marla's voice. I was listening to "Jane Eyre" and just marvelled at how beautiful it was. Sadly, I don't think she's been back to Broadway since "Jane Eyre". I know she was in "The Sound of Music" on tour recently, but that's all I know.

What roles would she be good in? I really would've liked it if she played Mary Poppins.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 5:40pm

Love her.

Fantine.

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 7:38pm

I've got some love right here.

All I kept thinking during "Mary Poppins" was how perfect Ms Schaffel would be in the role.

And now that Christine Ebersole looks sure to deservedly win this year's Tony, can Schaffel have the one she should have won in 2000 or so when Ebersole won for 42nd Street?

Just askin'.

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 7:44pm

Fourteen years old (the age of crazy teenage obsession), and I was in love with Jane Eyre. I finally got the chance to see the show a week before it closed.

I still remember everything about that day, but what I remember the most was what happened before the performance. I was hanging out by the stage door hoping to get a chance to talk to Marla Schaffel and James Barbour before the show. When Marla came around, a few other people mobbed her for autographs. It was my turn, but she apologized and ran inisde, saying that she needed to save her contact, because it was the only one she had left. I figured no big deal, I'd talk to her after the show.

But lo and behold, ten minutes later, she comes back out the stage door. By then, I had been ready to go inside the theatre. Instead, she seeks me out, and apologizes for leaving so quickly. Signs my cast recording, poses for a photo, all that fangirl stuff, before heading back inside again.

Imagine what that did to a young girl. Never forgot it, even 6 years later.

Anyway, enough memories. She was recently in the York Theater's Carmelina. She also replaced Emily Skinner in Fanny Hill, which I did see. It was a small bit part, but she got to show off her gorgeous voice and her comic skills, which are spot on.

Love her to death, in case you haven't realized yet.

[andyf]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 7:47pm

2001.


God died in 2001.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 07:47 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 7:54pm

L'Oops.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 07:54 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 7:54pm

I got to see her in WARRIOR at the NYMF this year. She was fantastic. She sang "Your Daddy's Demons," which was really a haunting, beautiful song.

As for a new role, I would say Fantine as well.

[pair-o-dice]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 8:09pm

She would be THE BEST MARY POPPINS EVER. She's perfect. Having seen her do both Sound of Music and My Fair Lady I can say that I don't think any one could do the part more justice than her. She's so sweet but has that little mischivous twinkle in her eye. She's be FLAWLESS.

Also loved her in 'A Broadway Diva Christmas' last year.

Marla's amazing...some one get her back on Broadway ASAP

[Julian2]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 8:15pm

Being the big fan I am of Jane Eyre, and looking foward to seeing Mary Poppins, I must say I am a humongous fan of Ms. Schaffel, and completely agree that she would be perfect in that role. I can only hope for her future success on Broadway.

[Dover]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 3:38am

I haven't seen Ebersole's performance in Grey Gardens yet, but I hope she wins just so I don't have to cringe every time people say "Tony Winner Christine Ebersole." By all accounts it sounds like she deserves this one.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 9:44am

Anyone who saw Marla in CARMELINA knows that she has the potential to be one of our great comic actresses, in addition to being a fabulous singer. She needs a new Broadway show now. I agree that she'd be an awesome Fantine (she's done it before). She would also be my first choice for Nancy should an OLIVER! revival ever happen.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 9:56am

Marla was also a fantastic Eliza Dolittle when Cameron was tossing about reviving that. I agree her Mary Poppins would be exceptional and unique! Too bad they didn't go with her (I think she might have read for it).
She's fantastic and really gave depth to Jane that didn't quite exist in the script.

[Nick Plasia]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 11:34am

Jesus, I heard her at an audition recently--and there
are wheezing milk cows with better pitch...

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 12:20pm

I saw her in the SOM tour a couple years ago. She was fabulous.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 12:22pm

The story I heard about her turning down the role of Christine in Phantom (supposedly she said that she didn't want to "sleepwalk through a role") is one of the best things ever, if it's true.

Love her in JE. Her Evita was good, too! I'd kill to hear her sing soprano.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 6:12pm

>>Jesus, I heard her at an audition recently--and there
are wheezing milk cows with better pitch...


This is a LOVE thread. It's so rude to post something like this in a thread clearly labelled as such.

[stonewall2]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 7:03pm

She did the national tour of "My Fair Lady" last year and although she had a terrrible cold, she performed beautifully. The one who should have been shot was the costumer who elected to put her in in a sleeveless, very low backed dress for the Embassy Ball and the thing didn't fit (WAY too tight in the back and she hung over the edging). Despite that, Ms.Schaffel stole the scene without so much as a word; all during the "Congratulations, Prof. Higgins" number, she stood with her back to the audience,yet you coudn't take your eyes from her. Every muscle, every fibre of her being radiated pain and anger and you could feel it eminating from her-palpable and real.
She managed to make it through the opening night with tissues hidden allover the stage and in the furniture, but then had to have her understudy take over for a night to recover from the famous colds we pass around here in Rochester. I would love to see her in the proper piece and think it was a shame that she literally "wasted" 10 years of her life while waiting to get "Eyre" on the Broadway stage-meanwhile, we al suffered through the endless stream of ALW garbage instead of gettting to see "Eyre" in it's prime. Also, it was done at the same time as "Ragtime" and the two shows fought it out in Toronto, with Ragtime winning the reviews and acclaim.

[opiv]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 8:13pm

Marla is awesome. She's my uncle's sister (were not technically related). I got to meet her at my cousin's bar mitzvah over the summer and she's hilarious. Especially when she sings in her drunk/helium voice

[parker russel]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 8:15pm

God bless Marla Schaffel. An incredibly gifted actress, a wonderful comedienne, a gorgeous and unique voice, and a sweet person. I LOVE MARLA SCHAFFEL.

She was AWESOME in Carmelina!

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 10:01pm

schaffel, huh?
that's my best friend's last name.. i wonder if there is any relation? i've never heard it on anyone else until now.. interesting..

[NCSAcat]

Posted: 12/21/06 at 12:24pm

I saw her in that lovely independant film she did some years back, 'I love you, Don't touch me!' long before I knew her in Jane Eyre, and while I love her musical performances tremendously, her dramatic work is just as rich as her vocal perfomances as far as that film goes, not to mention she has wonderful comic timing for the screen as well as the stage.